Frame supporting device



May l, 1951 v. w. HERZ FRAME SUPPORTING DEVICE Filed March 2o, 194e ...Vilain 4T y, WMA/U 4% Mw NL 4 Z ,/HU .C. 2? a M n Patented May l, 1 ,951

vUNITED f- STATES PATENT OFFICE g FRAME SUPPORTING DEVICE Vladimir W. Herz, New York, N. Y. Y Application March 20, 1946, Serial No. 655,750 V attributes Whichwill be readily understood by their descriptions given herein. 1

The ordinary device of the character to which the .devices of my inventionappertains com-A prises a frame-like structure the face member vof which is transparent, aremovable backing member vadapted to maintain a sheet of. material against the inner face of the transparent member, Vand means for accomplishing this abutment. Some of the thus described devices have means adapted to .maintain the frame in an upright position when it is placed upon a horizontal surface, such as a table, and it is to the last described 1 devices that the devices of my invention are particularly directed. Y

The following are among the desirable vat--V tributesof `devices of the character deseribed:-

they should be strong and economic in construction, should 4be readily released from and attachedr to the 4frame in order to allowof the removal from, and insertioninto, the frame of desirable sheets-of informative value, they should be capable of placement for supporting the frame y in vertical position, they should be capable 4 o f placement upon the backing member without removal of the frame to allow of convenient packingand of hanging upon a wall, and they should be adapted to force the backing member against theinformative sheet of material and thelatter against the transparent face ofA the frame as firmly as possible. p

As the usually employed backing material is flexible and bendable, it is evident that a pressure exerted upon its central portion will notv produce as firm a xed positionbetween the informative sheet and the face of the frame as will a pressure upon the Aouter edge portionsgof the backing material, and my invention discloses means for accomplishing this desired pressure upon the outer edge portions of the backed material.

The above-mentioned, and other desirable features ofthe devices of my invention will be evident upon a consideration of my application and its accompanying drawings. t

folded positionI' meanthe position of device when it is revolved against the backing member and by unfolded position I mean the position of my device when it is in a plane perpendicular to the plane ofthe backing member and is adapted to maintain the frame in an erect position When placed upon a horizontal surface.

By the word frame I mean any device having a transparent face and adapted to hold ar sheet of material and includes frames having a removable sheet of transparent material, as wellas those in which the entire device including bothkthe face and the surrounding edge portions are integral with each other and of transparent material. Y

Y In the accompanying drawings form of a device of my invention, similar parts are designated by similar numerals:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of a device of my invention with the device in unfolded vposition.

Figure 2 is a rear view showing in dotted linesy the folded position of my device. y Figure 3 is an enlarged section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2. Figure 4 is a still larger section taken on line 3-3 of Figure -2 withthe device in folded position. .1 Figure 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2 with the device in folded position.

The particular form of a device of my inven. tion vcomprises a rectangular transparent frame' l0, having the rearwardly extended end flanges i. H, Il, which are inclined slightly inwardly, the`a flanges Il, VIl having opposed openings l2, |2-l for purposes described later.

. A backing sheet 20 is positioned upon the innerl This sheet may be of` face of the frame I0. cardboard, wood, metal, synthetic resin or other material having sufficient rigidity, so that when the holding members, described later, are pressed upon it, the entire sheet will have approximately the same pressure upon the entire frame face or upon a picture or sheet of display matter 30M, placed between the backing sheet 20 and the face of the frame l0. Y

The above described frame and backing sheet are set forth in order to illustrate one formof these elements suitable for use with my pressure device, described later, but my device is not limited to use with these described elements, but is adaptable for use with other frames and i backing sheets.

The supporting device of my invention come' prises a rod having the member 40 which is extended into the angularly positioned member 4I,

illustrating one the bearing 41 for the reception of the rod portion 43.

A similar concave-shaped member marked with corresponding prime numerals acts as a bearing for the rod portion 40. e

The described supporting device is of such con,- struction and material in order that the stub ends 44, 44 may be readily removed from and inserted into the openings l2, I2 of the frame ange Il, Il.

The rod member portions and 43 of the supporting device are bent or biased inwardly in order that a camming effect will be produced when the supporting device is revolved from folded position to unfolded position, thus forcing the pressure members 45, against the backing sheet 2G, as shown particularly in Figs. 2, 3, and 4.

- The iull linesA in Figure 2. show the pressure device in its position when the end portions of the pressure members are pressing against the baekirie sheet 20- The dotted 111 in .Figure 2 ShOW the DlGSSllIe device in its folded position, that is when the device revolved Within the bearings 41 and 41" against the backing sheet 2li.

Assuming that the device is in its folded positOll as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2 and in Figures i and 5, it Will be noted that the end portions of the concave-shaped pressure membersA and 45, rest only lightly upon the backing sheet 20, and are forming no considerable pres- Slle therewi- It will be noted, however, that when the device is. revolved into its unfolded position, as shown in full lines in Figures 1 and 2 and in Figure 3, the pressure members 45 and 45 are moved to.- Ward` the backing sheet 20 causing their extended portions to beriirmly forced against the backing sheet, and that this desired pressure for maintaining the backing sheet 20 andthe frame l0 in fixed position with respect to each other is greatly emphasized by the fact that the pressure is exerted upon the-side portions of these two elements instead of solelyupon their central portions, thus iirmly holding these twoelements from possible accidental slippage.

It is evident that the concave-shaped pressure members may be of any desired length to accomplish the desired result.

I do not limit myself to the specific size, shape, number, position or material of parts as shown and described as these may be varied without going beyond the scope of my invention.

lWhat I claim is:

1. A frame supporting device, comprising a frame with a transparent fare endearing, op-

pesed beelrwerdly extended denses, said fianeies having aligned Openings therein .a Supporting member having biased end portiers meende of which are removably carried and revolvabieA within said ange openings, an intermediate portion of said supporting member being bent to liefiri en. approximate biene viriiih'e lever erige of theframe, a plurality of bearings carried by said supporting member within which said supporting member is revolvable, and an outwardly extended pressure member carried by each said bearing adapted to produce increased pressure toward said face of said frame in response to said biased end portions as the supporting member is moved from its folded position to its unfolded position.

2. A frame supporting device, comprising a frame with a transparent face and having opposed backwardly extended iianges, said anges having aligned openings therein, a backing sheet positioned upon the rear face of said frame, a supporting member having biased end portions theends f which are removaby carried and revolvable within said flange openings, an intermediate portionvgf said supporting member being bent to lie in an approximate plane with the lower edge. of the frame, Va plurality of bearings carried by said supporting member Within which said Supper-tine member is revolvable and an outwardly extended Pressure, member Carried by each said bearing adapted to produce increased pressure against seid backing sheet in response to said biased end portions as the supporting member is moved from its folded position to its unfolded position.

3. A frame supporting device, comprising a frame with a transparent Vface and having opposed backwardiy extended flanges, said flanges having aligned openings therein, a supporting rod having biased end portions the ends of which are removably carried and revolvable within said flange Openings, an intermediate portion of said supporting rod being bent to lie in an approximate plane with the lower edge of the frame, a plurality of bearings carried by ysaid supporting rod within which said supporting rod is revolvable, and an outwardly extended pressure mem- Iber carried by each said bearing adapted to be pressedV against said face when said rod ends are disposed in said flange openings, said pressure members being adapted to produce increased pressure toward said face of Asaid frame in response to said biased end portions as the supporting rod is moved from its fo.ded position to its unfoldedposition.

4. A frame supporting device, comprisinga frame with a transparent face and having opposed backwardly extended flanges,A said flanges having aligned openings therein, a backing sheet positioned upon the rear face oi said frame, a supporting rod the ends` of which are removably carried and revolvable within said ange openings, camming means adjacent each of said ends of said supporting rod, an intermediate portion of said supporting rod being'bent to lie in an approximate plane with the lower edge of the frame, a pluralityof bearings carried by said supporting rod within which said supporting rod is revolvable and an outwardly extended pressure member carriedl by each said bearing adapted to produce increased pressure against said backing sheet as the supporting rodA is moved from its folded position to its unfolded position.

5. A frame supporting device, comprising a frame with a transparent face and having opposed backwardly extended flanges, said flanges having aligned openings therein, a supporting member the ends of which are removably carried and revolvable Within said flange openings, a portion of said supporting member adjacent each of said ends being biased inwardly to provide a camming action when the supporting member is revolved from one position to another, an

2,550,926 5 6 intermediate portion of said supporting member REFERENCES CITED bemg bent to he m an approxlmateplane Wlth The following references are of record in the the lower edge of the frame, a plurality of bearme of this patent: ings carried by said supporting member Within which said supporting member is revolvable and 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS an outwardly extended concave-convex pressure Number Name Date member carried by each said bearing adapted to 317,510 Choinanus May 12, 1885 be pressed against said face when said ends are 496,703 Schuessler May 2, 1893 disposed in said flange openings, said pressure 537,578 McMichael Apr. 16, 1895 members being adapted to produce increased 10 1,450,621 Schutz Apr. 3, 1923 pressure toward said face of said frame as the 1,851,917 Maggio Mar. 29, 1932 supporting member is moved from its folded position to its unfolded position. FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date VLADIMIR W. HERZ. 15 8,500 Great Britain of 1896 

